Many thanks to Ola Mazzuca at Vice / Noisey for this interview for giving me an opportunity to share (and sound off) on the growing Reggae movement here in Singapore and Southeast Asia at large. I would like to say, of course I am not bringing a Reggae Revolution to Singapore alone, but only through the help of original Singapura Sound System Dub Skankin' Hifi, my team at the Singapura Dub Club (DJ Reiki & Soum Maya love ya!), my band The Irietones and all the amazing venues we have worked with from Artistry, Red Baron, Refuge to Potato Head Folk and Timbre Music that were willing to take a chance on a new culture and genre for the Lion City. There are also the other proprietors of Reggae music here in SG including Lion Steppaz, Limehouse Asia and some of my favourite Reggae selectas from JnR of Matte Blacc, Tom Shellsuit of Sideshow.sg and Nez & Submerge holding it down at Refuge for dancehall every Friday night and Dancehall Nation Singapore that keep the Bashment vibes alive.

My dream is for the message of Reggae Music, which is one of love, unity and peace - grow in the forefront of the mainstream culture here in Singapore. Heavily influenced by American Pop culture, this is a music that perpetuates consumption, greed and angst. Furthermore, I hope that the culture grows beyond the stereotypes of "Bob Marley smoking", and breaks the disunity caused by racism and xenophobia. May I remind everyone that the "Founding Father of Singapore" Sir Stamford Raffles was born in Montego Bay Jamaica?

As the Reggae Revival grows globally, the Reggae firsts are breaking here in SE Asia. A nation favouring bankers, investors and a love for money does not need MORE media and music to teach them to love material life more More MORE! In all things balance, and we are coining the notion of Singapura Irie to remind the people that Singapore was once an island; a kampong that operated on simple values of family, community and respecting nature. This is the message, this is the movement. Please help us share the vibes by sharing the story, joining the dialogue at Singapura Dub Club and come out to see us at our next event!

FEATURED

WATCH

MORE FROM BLOG

During my recent trip to Bangkok for shows, I missed the first 2 lessons from Pioneer DJ AsiaCentre. I caught up with my friend, 2 time Red Bull 3Style National Champion for Thailand DJ Bomber Selecta to get some foundation lessons on DJing, mixing and blending. I met him at Kreatah DJ Skool to learn!

Our first stop is Sambelan CUK! newly open restaurant of soulful crooner Denny Frust. If you follow this former font man of Indonesian Ska outift Monkeyboots on IG, it's exhausting to keep up with his touring schedule - rocking thousands of kids and Rocksteady fanatics across Indonesia, he is in a different city every night...

In this series, we take a casual stroll through Saigon, exploring the backstages and underground spots of the rising Reggae & Dub scene, eat some amazing Vietnamese food and visit the best coffee shops and co-working spaces to get shit done as a traveling artist (good wifi is a must!).